The U.S. House of Representatives is now on the floor debating H.R. 2749 "to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to improve the safety of food in the global market, and for other purposes."

Forty minutes of debate will be followed by a vote to suspend the rules and allow voting on final passage. A two-thirds vote will be necessary.

Michigan Congressman John Dingell made the motion to suspend the rules. "This is a piece of legislaltion that will stop Americans from being killed by bad food," Dingell said.

Both Democrats and Republicans are speaking out for the bill, but Rep. Frank Lucas, R-OK, has been given time to mount speakers against it. Lucas argues the bill actually being debated was not available until last night, and it would harm agriculture interests.

We will be back once the voting begins.